WHO WE ARE

The birth of the Jaycees started in 1959, Mr. Phillip Greaves, an assistant master at the Boys’ Grammar School introduced the ideals of the movement to Mr. Joe Connell, brother of the first President and Senator, Senator Arthur. R. Connell. On 16th July, 1959, at a public meeting held at the Memorial Hall the St. Vincent Junior Chamber was officially inaugurated with a membership of thirty-six. The Chapter held its first general meeting on July 28th, 1959 and elected its first president, Senator Arthur Connell.

The St. Vincent Jaycees became involved in the running of carnival in 1962, and ran the festival until 1972.  In 1964, BINGO was introduced after a delegation, which had attended a JCI Regional Conference in Barbados, was sold with the idea of running a BINGO.  It was so successful the Chapter was able to donate an ambulance to the Government of SVG and contribute to the community including the Arnos Vale Playing Pavilion. In 1973, a fifteen (15) minute programme called “Jaycees & You” was aired on Radio SVG (705).In the 1970s the Chapter added an Annual Secondary Public Speaking and a Primary School Spelling B Competition. 1980-1982 saw the construction of a clinic at Fancy. A project which won every award at W.I Jaycees NOM convention in 1983.